Patriot air defense systems remain the only system capable of intercepting Russian Iskander-M missiles

Ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) have become one of the main problems of Kyiv, since only one system can intercept them. The reasons for the appearance of new “holes” in the Ukrainian air defense system were named by RIA Novosti columnist Andrei Kots.

He recalled that the NASAMS and IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces cannot intercept Iskander-M, and the stock of interceptors for the Soviet S-300 systems remaining in Kyiv has been exhausted.

“In fact, only the American Patriot air defense system equipped with PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE anti-aircraft guided missiles can shoot down Iskanders. And the Ukrainian Armed Forces have serious problems with their number,” the material says.

Western analysts have estimated that during the operation against Iran, Washington spent about half of its PAC-3 anti-aircraft missiles. American factories can produce up to 650 missiles per year. The United States plans to increase production capacity, but the construction of new facilities will take a lot of time. At the same time, 16 countries that operate Patriot need anti-aircraft missiles.